HOUSTON -- Two United Airlines flights came within a few hundred feet of each other earlier this month while both were taking off at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The close call occurred on the night of May 9 and involved United Flight 601, an Airbus A320 that was departing for Vancouver, British Columbia, and Flight 437, also an Airbus A320 that was heading for Mexico City. Each aircraft can carry nearly 150 people.

According to the FAA, Flight 601 took off from Runway 9 heading east, while Flight 437 departed from Runway 15 left heading southeast. Moments later, Flight 601 was told by air traffic control to turn right.

"Flight 601 turn right parallel traffic," the controller can be heard saying on Live Air Traffic's recordings.